booth



y 8, 1937. H. BOOTH Re. 20,366

' VISIBLE INVENTORY AND SALES RECORDING DEVICE OrigiI lal Filed Jan. 31, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 MARCH APRIL [Ill :MAY

lllll A GUST SEPTEMBER OCT BER NOVEMBER 5 DECEMBER SALES ,9 STOCK 20 STOCKiCOAST) sTocgvm and STOCK AT MILL COLOR or no? snows MONTH OF TRANSACTION UNIT F I 2- k PREVIOUS M 35 INVENTOR y 8, 1937. H. BOOTH 20,366

I VISIBLE INVENTORY AND SALES RECORDING DEVICE Original Filed Jan. 31, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet? INVENTOR ATTORNEYf:

Reissued May 18, 1937 Re,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VISIBLE INVENTORY AND SALES RECORDING DEVICE Henry Booth, Yonkers, N. Y.

Original No. 2,037,192, dated April 14, 1936, Serial No. 709,094, January 31, 1934. Application for reissue January 2, 1937, Serial No. 118,931

13 Claims. (Cl. 40-195) The present invention relates to apparatus for chandise are involved, the apparatus will be deand method of indicating merchandise inventory signed to accommodate one or more rows of holdand sales. An object thereof has been in part ers 4, in which case the sections are interlocked to provide a compact d flexib1 d i e whi h laterally or otherwise suitably connected in side affords an accurate and informative quantitative y side a a ge t- The main recess 5 of each 5 representation of m h di inventory d of holder 4 is aligned with and normally closed at its the movement of merchandise, referred to any bottom end y the remDVable po s 3 of desired or convenient period of time. An object flange of my improved method has been to simplify and Counters tallies for use With y p d clarify the operation of inventory control and of apparatus y v ous y be embodied in a wide 10 cumulatively representing the amount of mer Variety Of shapes, e ate als, colors, etc-- chandise bought and sold. In a more specific emwith the yp O f ame shown, unit counters or bodiment, my invention is intended to provide tallies such as those illustrated in Figures 4 and strumentalities for readily showing comparisons, 5 are Satisfactory Each sts f & at relafor example, of the quantities of different styles lively thin Plate having d d edges and of 15 or kinds of merchandise in inventory and/or the Suitably durable erial, all being of equal rates of sale of different styles or kinds of merthickness The telly 8, Figure is substa tia y chandise and/or of the Same kind f merchan square and provided with notches 9 positioned to disc during different periods of time and/or at be engaged by a removing @001, Figure The djfi r t places tally I0, Figure 5, differs from tally 8 in that its A preferred f f apparatus embodying my four corners are cut away. Tallies having other 20 invention and adapted for use in a branch f differences in outline or shape may be employed in the textile industry, for example, is illustrated adcliiion i001 as substitutes for those above in the drawings acompanying this specification Scnbedand in which- The tally removing tool, Figure 6, includes a Figure 1 is a from elevation; housing ll carrying a spring pressed push rod I2 25 Figure 2, a transverse Section on the line provided at one end with a hook 13 which, when of Figure 1; inserted between contiguous tallies, as arranged Figure 3, a view in perspective of a tally receivin Figure engages a notch 9, and, when withm and accumulating member; drawn, carries the tally with it. Insertion of a Figure 4 View in perspective f one form f tally between others of the kind shown is fa- 30 tally or counter; cilitated by inserting the pointed end of hook l3 Figure 5 a Similar View of another form of between the edges of adjacent tallies to separate tally or counter; them- Figure 5 a tally removing 1, 1 Shown in longi- The tally 29 shown in Figure 7 includes projecttudina] section; and ing end and side portions 30 which are preferably 35 Figure 7 a View in perspective f a m difi d tapered to a narrow edge to facilitate the inserform Of tally tion of a tally between two others without the Referring t t drawings, t form of apparause of a tool. A table or chart of symbols may tus there shown includes a frame comprising a conveniently be madea p f or mounted p n 40 base I in the form of an upright panel and a botthe base p e a s l4 ptom flange 2 provided with removable gates or resent different colors correlated with the names slides 3, slidably mounted therein, and each hav- 0f the months The marking ep esents an end ing a knob or finger hold 25. or edge of a tally, like lil, Figure 5. The mark- A suitable tally or counter receptacle, as a i g l6 represents a tally Ill having an additional 45 holder 4, is secured to the base with its lower C0101 marking I? which, in t m and posiend resting upon the flange 2, A main groove tion shown, signifies a sale made at some desigor recess 5 extends longitudinally of said holder, hated place different from that indicated y the which is also provided with a smaller groove 6 plain ge represented y marking and an undercut edge groove 1, Figure 3, Th Markings I8 and I 9 disclose similar informa- 50 holder 4, preferably made in sections, is so artion in respect to the location of inventory merranged that the several grooves of one section are chandise. Markings Z1! d 25 represent ve aligned with those of the next contiguous sectory tallies of diifercnt color to distinguish betion when assembled as shown in Figure 1. tween merchandise held in bond and merchan- Where diiferent grades, kinds or styles of merdisc at the mill for example. A dot, as 22, ap-

pearing on a tally indicates by its color the month in which the transaction involving the merchandise represented by said tally took place. The marking 23 represents a predetermined multiple of units of merchandise sold and relates to the smaller tallies 24 arranged in the small groove 6. These multiple tallies are colored to correspond to the month designating colors I 4.

The groove 1 is provided with undercut edges which retain a slidable scale member 26 having markings by reference to which the number of tallies in any group may be quickly and accurately ascertained. A knob or finger piece 21 facilitates sliding movement of scale 26.

In operation, assuming that the record begins as of January 1st and that the merchandise consists of textiles dealt in by the bolt, for example, a given number of lavender tallies 2!, one per bolt, will be placed in position at the bottom of main recess 5, Figure 1. Colored dots 22 on these tallies show the months in which the corresponding goods were ordered. Next, a group of tan tallies 20 is superimposed on the first group and represent the goods in bond. Suitably colored dots 22 on these tallies identify the months in which the several lots of merchandise went into bond. A group of white or stock tallies I8 also bearing appropriate month dots is superimposed on the tan tallies. If merchandise is stocked at another place of business, a marking H on tally l9 indicates where the unit of merchandise is located. When a sale of a unit of merchandise is made, an inventory tally 8, marked as shown at I8, is removed and a suitably colored sales tally I5 placed on top of the pile. This tally is colored to indicate the month in which the sale took place. If the sale was made out of stock at another place, a sale tally marked as shown at I6 and having the place mark I! is used to replace a corresponding inventory tally. The tallies 24 may represent multiples of I0, I00, or other convenient number of bolts or other units. Thus, if the sales in January exceed the number represented by a multiple tally, such a tally, appropriately colored, will be inserted at the bottom of groove 6 and a corresponding number of sales tallies will be removed from the January group in recess 5. This arrangement, as well as others which readily suggest themselves, is intended to provide maximum capacity and flexibility for a given size of apparatus.

The operations above noted are repeated for each succeeding month and, as the tallies are added or replaced, the apparatus affords an accurate and comprehensive record not only of the quantities of goods handled but of their rate of movement as well. Where different stacks of tallies represent transactions involving different grades, kinds, or styles of textiles, they alford a most effective means for readily comparing the inventory conditions and rate of movement of one with another or others. At the end of a record period or at any other time, the pile or stack of tallies or a portion thereof may be readily discharged by withdrawing the removable gate 3 of flange 2.

It is contemplated that apparatus embodying the invention above described, or employed in connection with the method above set forth, may be used advantageously in widely differing kinds of business and, in many cases, with obvious modifications or departures from the specific embodiment described and shown herein. The use of such apparatus by an executive or other responsible person or head not only provides a complete picture of the business transactions involved, but does so at a relatively small cost in time. Furthermore, careful use of the apparatus gives the executive a means for checking irregular occurrences in relation to all merchandise under his direction. Other advantages and beneficial results in operation will be apparent from a careful consideration of the above description and the stated mode of operation taken in connection with the illustrative drawings appended thereto.

I claim:

1. An inventory and sales indicating device comprising a holder provided with a longitudinally extending tally receiving recess having a lateral opening co-extensive therewith, and a plurality of tallies freely insertable into and removable from said recess through said opening and bearing markings representing unit values andother markings representing time data, said markings being arranged at edge portions of said tallies and visible through said opening when the tallies are stacked one upon another in said recess.

2. An inventory and sales indicating device comprising a holder provided with a longitudinally extending tally receiving recess having a lateral opening co-extensive therewith, a plurality of tallies freely insertable into and removable from said recess through said opening and a removable tally supporting member at one end of said recess of the tally holder.

3. An inventory and sales indicating device comprising a holder provided with a longitudinally extending tally-receiving recess having a lateral opening co-extensive therewith and a longitudinally extending groove parallel with said recess, a plurality of tallies freely insertable into and removable from said recess through said opening and a tally counting device slidably arranged in said groove.

4. An inventory and sales indicating device comprising a holder provided with a longitudinally extending tally-receiving recess having a lateral opening, and a plurality of tallies freely insertable into and removable from said recess through said opening, said tallies being arranged one upon another in said recess and with their edge portions shaped to facilitate the passage of a removing tool between contiguous tallies.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 and wherein each tally is provided with a recess to form a shoulder for engagement with a removing tool.

6. An inventory and sales indicating device comprising a holder provided with a longitudinally extending tally receiving recess having a lateral opening, and a plurality of tallies freely insertable into and removable from said recess through said opening, said tallies having tapered edge portions shaped to facilitate the insertion of one tally between two other contiguous tallies.

7. An inventory and sales indicating device comprising a tally holder for receiving a plurality of tallies and having an opening extending along one side to expose edge portions of tallies arranged therein, and a tally counting device slidably mounted on said holder parallel with and adjacent to said opening.

8. An inventory and sales indicating device comprising a holder provided with a longitudinally extending tally receiving recess having a lateral opening co-extensive therewith, and a plurality of tallies insertable into and removable from said recess through said opening and bearing markings representing unit values and other markings representing time data, said markings being arranged at edge portions of said tallies and visible through said opening when the tallies are stacked one upon another in said recess.

9. An inventory and sales indicating device comprising a holder provided with a. longitudinally extending tally receiving recess having a lateral opening co-extensive therewith, a plurality of tallies insertable into and removable from said recess through said opening and a removable tally supporting member at one end of said recess of the tally holder.

10. An inventory and sales indicating device comprising a holder provided with a longitudinally extending tally-receiving recess having a lateral opening co-extensive therewith and a longitudinally extending groove parallel with said recess, a plurality of tallies insertable into and removable from said recess and a tally counting device slidably arranged in said groove.

11. An inventory and sales indicating device comprising a holder provided with a longitudinally extending tally-receiving recess having a lateral opening, and a plurality of tallies insertable into and removable from said recess through said opening, said tallies being arranged one upon another in said recess and with their edge portions shaped to facilitate the passage of a removing tool between contiguous tallies.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 and wherein each tally is provided with a recess to form a shoulder for engagement with a removing tool.

13. An inventory and sales indicating device comprising a holder provided with a longitudinally extending tally receiving recess having a lateral opening, and a plurality of tallies insertable into and removable from said recess through said opening, said tallies having tapered edge portions shaped to facilitate the insertion of one tally between two other contiguous tallies.

HENRY BOOTH. 

